Okay, hang on. Before we get into the syllable types, let me define the word “syllable” for you:

A syllable is a unit of pronunciation that has one vowel sound.

Words can be made up of one syllable (i.e. chair) or several syllables (i.e. rhi/noc/er/os).

Syllable Type #1: Closed Syllable

What it is: A closed syllable is a syllable that ends with a consonant. The vowel has a short sound.

Word examples:

hat (ends with a consonant, t, and has a short a sound)

pigpen (this word has two closed syllables, “pig” and “pen,” both with short vowels -> pig/pen)

When to teach it: I usually teach this toward the beginning of first grade. Students should have lots of experience with CVC words. You can introduce 2-syllable words with 2 closed syllables (like “sunset” or “bathtub”) and explain what a closed syllable is. (By the way, in the “bathtub example, the division is bath/tub. Even though the first syllable technically ends with t AND h, they’re a digraph and therefore make one consonant sound, /th/.)

Syllable Type #2: Open Syllable

What it is: An open syllable has one vowel and is NOT “closed in” by a consonant. The vowel is “free to shout its name” (it’s a long vowel).

Word examples:

me (no consonant at the end; the vowel is long and “says its name”)

robot (the first syllable is “ro” and is open; the second syllable is closed -> ro/bot)

When to teach it: It works well if you teach the concept of an open syllable along with or shortly after teaching closed syllables. Again, the beginning of first grade is ideal for this – but you can also cover this concept at the end of Kindergarten if you’re introducing long vowel sounds. Words like “we” and “me” are great examples to use with Kinders, since they probably already know them by sight.

Syllable Type #3: Silent / Magic / Sneaky E / VCE

What it is: Whatever you wanna call it, the VCE (vowel-consonant-e) syllable type has a silent e at the end and a long vowel sound!

Word examples:

bike (the silent e makes the i “say its name” – aka gives it a long vowel sound)

mistake (the first syllable is “mis” and is closed; the second syllable is VCE -> mis/take)

When to teach it: This is a good concept to address during first grade, after students know their short and long vowel sounds. They should be familiar with the concepts of open and closed syllables. When you teach this syllable type, you can have students practice changing closed syllables to VCE syllables (i.e. taking “rid” and turning into “ride”).

Syllable Type #4: Vowel Team Syllable

What it is: A vowel team syllable contains two vowels that come together to make one sound. Some people divide up this syllable type into vowel digraphs and vowel diphthongs for a total of 7 syllable types.

Word examples:

steam (the vowel team is the e and the a coming together to make the long e sound)

soapbox (the first syllable is “soap” and has the vowel team “oa;” the second syllable is closed)

When to teach it: I usually teach this in first grade – after students are very comfortable with open and closed syllables, as well as silent e. I always have to review this in second grade, too.

Syllable Type #5: R-Controlled Syllable

What it is: In an r-controlled syllable, the letter “r” follows a vowel. The vowel doesn’t make a short OR long sound – rather, it’s “controlled” or “influenced” by the r and makes a different sound altogether.

Word examples:

star (the a is controlled by the r)

lobster (the first syllable is “lob,” a closed syllable, and the second syllable is “ster,” an r-controlled syllable -> lob/ster)

When to teach it: I teach this in first grade. I feel like it’s a toss-up between r-controlled syllables and vowel team syllables – either concept can be taught after kids learn open syllables, closed syllables, and silent e. I definitely review this concept in 2nd grade. And there are some more complex r-influenced spelling patterns that can be covered in later grades.

Syllable Type #6: Consonant-L-E Syllable

What it is: In a CLE syllable, a consonant + the letters “l” and “e” come at the end of the syllable.

Word examples:

table (the first syllable is “ta,” an open syllable, and the second syllable is “ble,” a CLE syllable)

example (ex/am/ple – the first two syllables are both closed, and the last syllable, “ple,” is a CLE syllable)

When to teach it: This is usually the last syllable type that I teach, and we typically address it in second grade.

Conclusion

If you didn’t know about the 6 syllable types until you read this post, you’re not alone!! I didn’t learn about this in my undergraduate education program, nor in my reading specialist master’s program! I learned this stuff after becoming a teacher – but boy, it sure has made teaching phonics easier!

If you’re looking for more support in teaching these concepts to your students, check out the resources below. They’re digital phonics games that are no-prep!

These activities give your students practice with identifying syllable types AND dividing words up into syllables.

The games also include audio directions that explain the syllable types and division rules!

Wow!! This is so helpful! And I am just learning about this now! This was a little hidden treasure for me, thank you so much for sharing:)

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6 months ago

Jennifer

The reason diphthongs and Vowel teams are different syllable types: 1. With vowel teams you have the long vowel sound. It is a familiar sound that studnets know when say: vowel team, ai says a, cause the first one does the talking… etc. AND they are made of 2 vowels. 2. Dipthongs MOST of the time make a new sound that is NOT a long or short vowel and they are not a always a team of vowels. OW- not a team of vowels, so it should not be coded as a vowel team- says /ou/ in cow and /o/… Read more »

I’ve always wondered why the word “have” has a short vowel sound, but “behave” has a long a sound. Is this just an exception to the rule, or did spelling change over time with English while the pronunciation stayed the same (like with “gh” having different pronunciations depending on the word as you mentioned)?

Hey Lauren, such a good question!! I’m not sure myself, but I’m guessing that it has to do with pronunciations changing over time. The beginning of the Words Their Way book has some interesting stuff about the historical changes of vowels and other sounds.

Alison

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5 months ago

rena

awesome!

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4 months ago

Stef

Awesome and Amazing

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2 months ago

Connect

Hey there!

I’m Alison, a literacy specialist and consultant. I love getting kids excited about reading and writing - and sharing literacy ideas with other teachers!